FR3113148A1 - Device and method for supplying an ultrasonic transducer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for supplying an ultrasonic transducer (302) comprising a power interface (106) configured to supply an analog power signal, called a power supply signal, to said ultrasonic transducer (302), characterized in that it further comprises a sigma-delta modulator (104) configured to carry out a sigma-delta modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called control, and to supply a digital signal, called control, to control said interface of power (106). It also relates to an ultrasound device (300) powered by such a power supply device, an ultrasound head comprising such ultrasound devices and an ultrasound system comprising such an ultrasound head. Figure: Fig. 3

Description

Device and method for supplying an ultrasonic transducer

The present invention relates to a device and a method for powering an ultrasonic transducer. It also relates to an ultrasonic device comprising such a power supply device, and an ultrasonic system comprising such an ultrasonic device.

The field of the invention is the field of ultrasonic devices and in particular the field of powering ultrasonic transducers, and in particular ultrasonic transducers for medical use.

State of the art

Ultrasonic transducers are widely used in the medical field, especially for medical imaging, for example for ultrasound, but also for medical therapy. To do this, the transducers are typically arranged in a matrix, also called an "ultrasonic head", in order to emit focused and high-power ultrasound in the area to be imaged or treated. Each ultrasonic transducer is supplied with a sinusoidal signal at a given frequency so as to generate an ultrasonic signal of said frequency.

Generally, the ultrasonic head comprises, for each ultrasonic transducer, an individual control chain. The latter makes it possible to modify, individually for each transducer, the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal emitted by said transducer, but also its frequency and its phase. Thus, the characteristics of the ultrasonic wave emitted by each transducer of the matrix can be modified.

However, the known control chains for ultrasonic transducers have degraded yields. Moreover, the sinusoidal control signals supplied by the known control chains are of poor quality so that the ultrasonic signal is degraded. Finally, known command strings are usually cumbersome.

An object of the present invention is to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer that is more efficient in terms of performance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device for an ultrasonic transducer providing a sinusoidal power supply signal of better quality.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer that is less bulky.

The invention makes it possible to achieve at least one of these objects by means of a power supply device for an ultrasonic transducer comprising a power interface configured to supply an analog power signal, called power supply signal, to said ultrasonic transducer , characterized in that it further comprises a sigma-delta modulator configured to carry out a sigma-delta modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called control signal, and supply a digital signal, called control signal, to control said power interface.

In other words, the invention proposes to control the power interface supplying the sinusoidal power supply signal to the ultrasonic transducer by a sigma-delta modulator through a sinusoidal signal modulated in sigma-delta.

Thus, the device according to the invention makes it possible to supply the ultrasonic transducer with a supply signal of better quality, and with improved efficiency compared to known command chains. Indeed, the sigma-delta modulator makes it possible to supply a sigma-delta modulated sinusoidal signal making it possible to control a simple and lower cost power interface. As a result, the transducer supply signal contains harmonics located in the high frequencies outside its passband.

Furthermore, the sigma-delta modulator can be realized as a digital component so that the footprint of the power supply device is smaller, compared to currently known analog control chains. In addition, the use of a sigma-delta modulator makes it possible to avoid the use of a filter dedicated to the suppression of harmonics, which further reduces the size of the power supply device according to the invention.

The reduction in the size of the power supply device according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the size of the ultrasonic head compared to current ultrasonic heads, or to increase the number of transducers of the ultrasonic head with constant size.

The sigma-delta modulator can be of any order.

For example, the sigma-delta modulator can be of the ^4th order.

According to one embodiment, the sigma-delta modulator may include a mono-bit output quantizer so that the control signal is modulated on one bit.

In this case, the power interface can for example be a half H-bridge controlled by the sigma-delta modulated control signal.

According to one embodiment, the sigma-delta modulator can include a multi-bit output quantizer so that the control signal is modulated over several bits.

In this case, the power interface can for example be a group of switches, each connected to a particular fixed voltage, controlled by the sigma-delta modulated control signal. In particular, when the control signal is on two bits, four switches and their voltage source are necessary. In general, the power interface is adapted to the number of bits of the control signal.

Advantageously, the control signal can be a digital sinusoidal signal, that is to say a sinusoidal signal in digital form, in other words a sinusoidal signal represented in digital form traditionally encoded in “n” bits in complement to 2.

• une fréquence dudit signal de pilotage,
• une amplitude dudit signal de pilotage,
• une phase dudit signal de pilotage.

In this case, the power supply device according to the invention may further comprise a digital generator configured to generate said control signal, according to any combination of at least one of the following parameters:

• a frequency of said control signal,
• an amplitude of said control signal,
• a phase of said pilot signal.

Such a generator can be an electronic chip, or any other digital component programmed to generate, in digital form, an analog signal according to input data representing at least one of the listed parameters.

• une donnée relative à une fréquence dudit signal de pilotage,
• une donnée relative à une amplitude dudit signal de pilotage,
• une donnée relative à une phase dudit signal de pilotage.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the power supply device according to the invention may comprise a digital control interface providing any combination of at least one of the following parameters:

• a datum relating to a frequency of said control signal,
• a datum relating to an amplitude of said control signal,
• a datum relating to a phase of said control signal.

Such a digital control interface may be, or may include, a digital communication interface provided to receive data representing at least one of the parameters listed, from an external control device.

Alternatively, such a digital control interface may be, or include, a calculation intelligence making it possible to deduce at least one of the parameters listed as a function of other data supplied to it, such as, for example, power data, a focus distance, etc.

The digital control interface can be provided to achieve wireless communication with the external control device.

Alternatively, or in addition, the digital control interface can be provided to carry out a wired communication, with the external control device, through a digital communication bus.

The power supply device according to the invention can be integrated, in part or in whole, in at least one digital component, such as an electronic chip or a processor, in particular a programmable one.

In particular, all the elements of the power supply device according to the invention, except the power interface, can be integrated into a digital component, such as an electronic chip or a processor, in particular programmable.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the sigma-delta modulator can be integrated into a digital component, such as an electronic chip or a processor, in particular programmable, with the digital signal generator, and/or the digital control interface.

• au moins un transducteur ultrasonore, et
• un dispositif d’alimentation selon l’invention pour alimenter ledit au moins un transducteur ultrasonore.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an ultrasonic device comprising:

• at least one ultrasonic transducer, and
• a supply device according to the invention for supplying said at least one ultrasonic transducer.

The ultrasonic transducer can be a transducer of any type.

In particular, the ultrasound transducer can be an ultrasound transducer used for medical applications, in particular for medical imaging such as ultrasound, or medical treatment such as ecotherapy, or even for aesthetic applications.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is proposed an ultrasonic head comprising several ultrasonic devices according to the invention, in parallel.

In the ultrasonic head according to the invention, each ultrasonic transducer is associated with a power supply device dedicated to it so that each ultrasonic transducer can be controlled individually. Thus, the characteristics of the ultrasonic wave generated by each ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic head according to the invention can be modified individually.

In particular, the amplitude, frequency and phase of the ultrasonic wave emitted by each ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic head can be modified for each ultrasonic transducer individually.

The ultrasonic head according to the invention can be used for medical imaging, in particular for ultrasound imaging.

Alternatively, or additionally, the ultrasonic head according to the invention can be used for medical therapy.

Alternatively, or in addition, the ultrasonic head according to the invention can be used for aesthetic treatment.

• une tête ultrasonique selon l’invention, et
• au moins un appareil de commande numérique des dispositifs ultrasonores de ladite tête ultrasonique.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound system comprising:

• an ultrasonic head according to the invention, and
• at least one digital control device for the ultrasonic devices of said ultrasonic head.

According to one embodiment, the ultrasonic system according to the invention may comprise for at least one, and in particular each, ultrasonic device of the ultrasonic head, an individual digital control device dedicated to said ultrasonic device.

In this case, each ultrasonic device of the ultrasonic head receives the data concerning the ultrasonic wave to be generated from the digital control device dedicated to it.

According to another embodiment, the ultrasonic system according to the invention may comprise a digital control device common to several, and in particular to all, ultrasonic devices.

Thus, each ultrasonic device receives the data concerning the ultrasonic wave to be generated from said common digital control device.

The common digital control device can be connected to the ultrasonic devices by a wired digital communication bus.

Alternatively, said common digital control device can be connected to said ultrasonic devices by a wireless connection, for example of the Wifi or Bluetooth type, and more generally a radiofrequency wireless connection.

Alternatively, said common digital control device can be connected to said ultrasonic devices by an optical connection.

In all cases, the data defining the ultrasonic wave to be generated by each ultrasonic device can be sent to the digital control interface of said ultrasonic device.

The system according to the invention can be a medical imaging system.

The system according to the invention may be an ultrasound imaging system. In this case, the system can comprise, in known manner, means for processing echographic waves to generate at least one echographic image.

The system according to the invention can be a medical therapy system.

In particular, the system according to the invention can be an ecotherapy system.

The system according to the invention can be an aesthetic treatment system.

According to another aspect of the invention, a use of the system according to the invention is proposed for medical imaging.

According to another aspect of the invention, a use of the system according to the invention is proposed for the aesthetic treatment of at least one zone of the body of a human or animal being.

• modulation sigma-delta d’un signal sinusoïdal, dit de pilotage, pour fournir un signal, dit de commande ;
• commande d’une interface de puissance avec ledit signal de commande modulé en sigma-delta, pour fournit ledit signal d’alimentation.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is proposed a method for supplying an ultrasonic transducer with an analog power signal, said supply signal, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

• sigma-delta modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called control, to provide a signal, called control;
• controlling a power interface with said sigma-delta modulated control signal, to provide said power supply signal.

Of course, the method according to the invention may comprise, in terms of method, any combination of at least one characteristic described above, and which are not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

Description of figures and embodiments

• la FIGURE 1 est une représentation schématique d’un exemple de réalisation non limitatif d’un dispositif d’alimentation d’un transducteur ultrasonore ;
• la FIGURE 2 est une représentation schématique d’un exemple non limitatif d’exemples de signaux dans le dispositif de la FIGURE 1 ;
• la FIGURE 3 est une représentation schématique d’un exemple de réalisation non limitatif d’un dispositif ultrasonore selon l’invention ;
• la FIGURE 4 est une représentation schématique d’un exemple de réalisation non limitatif d’une tête ultrasonique selon l’invention ;
• la FIGURE 5 est une représentation schématique d’un exemple de réalisation non limitatif d’un système ultrasonore selon l’invention ; et
• la FIGURE 6 est une représentation schématique d’un autre exemple de réalisation non limitatif d’un système ultrasonore selon l’invention.

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examination of the detailed description of a non-limiting embodiment, and of the appended drawings in which:

• FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer;
• FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting example of exemplary signals in the device of FIGURE 1;
• FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic device according to the invention;
• FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of an ultrasonic head according to the invention;
• FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasound system according to the invention; And
• FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting embodiment of an ultrasound system according to the invention.

It is understood that the embodiments which will be described subsequently are in no way limiting. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of characteristics described below isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional feature without structural detail, or with only part of the structural detail if this part is only sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a power supply device according to the invention.

The device 100, shown in FIGURE 1, is intended to power an ultrasonic transducer, for example in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic head for medical use.

• la fréquence F, et/ou
• la phase φ, et/ou
• l’amplitude A

du signal sinusoïdal à générer.The power supply device 100 comprises a digital sinusoidal signal generator 102 which generates a digital sinusoidal signal, that is to say a sinusoidal signal represented in digital form, and referred to below as the pilot signal. This digital generator 102 can be any digital electronic component programmed or designed to deliver, in digital form, the sinusoidal control signal, according to the parameters relating to the sinusoidal signal to be generated. For example, the parameters given to the digital generator 102 can include:

• the frequency F, and/or
• the phase φ, and/or
• amplitude A

of the sinusoidal signal to be generated.

The digital generator 102 therefore supplies a digital signal representing a sinusoidal signal, and called the control signal. The phase and the frequency of the pilot signal correspond respectively to the frequency and to the phase of the ultrasonic wave to be generated.

Of course, the use of such a digital generator in the device according to the invention is optional and the control signal can be provided by an external device.

Device 100 further comprises a Sigma-Delta converter 104, also called SD converter hereafter. The SD converter 104 receives the control signal and carries out a sigma-delta conversion of said control signal to supply a signal, called the control signal. In other words, the control signal supplied by the SD converter 104 is a sigma-delta representation of the control signal which itself is a digital signal representing a sinusoidal signal.

The SD converter 104 can be of any order.

SD converter 104 may include a single-bit or multi-bit output quantizer.

The power supply device 100 comprises a power interface 106 intended to deliver a power signal supplying an ultrasonic transducer. The power supply signal delivered by the power interface 106 is a high voltage sinusoidal signal, for example between 10V and 100V, and with a power of a few watts. The ultrasonic transducer transforms this power signal into an ultrasonic wave whose frequency is equal to the frequency of the power signal.

The power interface 106 is controlled by the control signal supplied by the SD converter 104. In other words, the control signal 106 adjusts the operation of the power interface 106 so that the latter supplies the power supply signal. The power interface 106 can be a half H-bridge or an H-bridge or even a group of switches, controlled by the control signal supplied by the SD converter. In this case, the power interface 106 comprises, in known manner, a DC voltage source, or receives a DC voltage from an external source. The control signal supplied by the SD converter 104 controls the operation of the power interface 106 which supplies, at output, a modulated sinusoidal supply voltage SD.

In the example shown, the power supply device 100 comprises a control interface 108, upstream of the digital generator 102. The control interface is arranged to supply the digital generator 102 with the characteristics of the sinusoidal signal to be generated, namely the frequency F, and/or phase φ, and/or amplitude A.

The command interface 108 can be provided to receive at least one of these characteristics from an external device with which it is in communication.

Alternatively, the control interface 108 can be programmed to deduce at least one of these characteristics according to other data, such as a focusing distance of the ultrasonic wave to be generated or a power value of the ultrasonic wave to be generated, for example.

Of course, the use of such a control interface is optional and the characteristics of the sinusoidal signal can be communicated directly to the digital generator 102.

Each of the modules 102-108 can be realized digitally. In particular, at least the SD converter 104 is implemented digitally.

In FIGURE 1, each of the modules 102-108 is shown individually. Of course, at least two of these modules can be integrated into the same digital component, such as a chip or a processor. In particular, the SD converter 104 and the digital generator 102 can be integrated into the same digital component.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of non-limiting examples of signals in the device of FIGURE 1.

• le signal 202 correspond à la courbe qui représente le signal numérique fourni par le générateur 102 au modulateur SD ;
• le signal 204 correspond au signal de commande, modulé en sigma-delta, produit par le convertisseur SD 104, qui possède dans cet exemple une sortie mono-bit, grâce au signal 202 et
• le signal 206 correspond au spectre du signal produit par l’interface 106 qui alimente le transducteur. Ce signal est dans cet exemple produit par un modulateur SD du 4^èmeordre mono-bit.

Thus, in FIGURE 2:

• the signal 202 corresponds to the curve which represents the digital signal supplied by the generator 102 to the SD modulator;
• signal 204 corresponds to the control signal, modulated in sigma-delta, produced by SD converter 104, which in this example has a mono-bit output, thanks to signal 202 and
• the signal 206 corresponds to the spectrum of the signal produced by the interface 106 which feeds the transducer. This signal is in this example produced by a mono-bit ^4th order SD modulator.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic device according to the invention.

The ultrasonic device 300 shown in FIGURE 3 comprises an ultrasonic transducer 302 powered by a power supply device according to the invention, and in particular the power supply device 100 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of an ultrasonic head according to the invention.

The ultrasonic head 400 of FIGURE 4 comprises "n" ultrasonic devices 300 ₁ -300 _n arranged in parallel and forming a matrix.

At least two of the ultrasonic devices 300 ₁ -300 _n can be identical or different.

Each ultrasonic device 300 _i can be identical to the ultrasonic device 300 of FIGURE 3 and includes all the elements of the device 300 with the same references supplemented by "i" as a subscript.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasound system according to the invention.

The ultrasonic system 500 of FIGURE 5 comprises an ultrasonic head according to the invention, such as for example the ultrasonic head 400 of FIGURE 4.

The ultrasonic system 500 further comprises a control device 502, such as a computer or a tablet, and more generally any computer device, connected to each ultrasonic device 300 _i of the ultrasonic head 400, and in particular to the interface of control 108 _i of said ultrasonic device.

In the example shown, the control device 502 is connected to each control interface 108 _i through a digital and wired 504 communication bus 504. Alternatively, each control interface 108 _i can be in communication with the control device 502 through a wireless link.

The control device 502 makes it possible to control each ultrasonic device 300 _i individually and independently of the other ultrasonic devices 300 _i with a view to changing the frequency, the phase and/or the amplitude of the ultrasonic wave emitted by each ultrasonic device 300 _i . This makes it possible to adjust in a simple, dynamic and reactive manner, the amplitude, the frequency and the phase of each ultrasonic wave emitted by each ultrasonic device 300 _i . Therefore, it is possible to adjust in a simple, flexible and reactive manner the focal point, and the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the 300 ₁ -300 _n ultrasonic devices.

Thus, when the invention is implemented in a medical imaging device, it is possible to track moving organs.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting embodiment of an ultrasound system according to the invention.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a variation of FIGURE 5, in which the system 600, shown in FIGURE 6, has a head 602 composed of a plurality of 'n' composite ultrasound devices 604 ₁ to 604 _n . Within each of these composite ultrasonic devices 604 _i , the same common interface 108 _i controls a plurality of supply devices which each supply one and only one transducer. For example, within the ultrasonic device 604 ₁ , the same common interface 108 ₁ controls a plurality of 'k' supply devices 100 ₁₁ to 100 _1m , which each supply one and only one transducer 302 ₁₁ to 302 _1k . In the same way, the block 604 _n comprises a single digital interface 108 _n which directly drives the 'm' supply devices 100 _n1 to 100 _nm of the transducers 302 _n1 to 302 _nm respectively.

This makes it possible to produce a digital interface block 108 ₁ to 108 _n , each of which is capable of directly driving a group of several transducers of the matrix.

The matrix is then made up of a multitude of transducers, which are associated in 'n' groups comprising an identical or different number of transducers. In general, the number of transducers in a given group is small, for example in number from 2 to 16.

Thus, it is for example possible to gain in compactness and in the number of components at the level of the digital interfaces within the head. It is also possible to industrially produce a compact and standard sub-assembly including a digital interface and several transducers; which standard sub-assembly can be used in different configurations to make different types of heads.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples detailed above.

Claims (12)

Device (100) for powering an ultrasonic transducer (302) comprising a power interface (106) configured to supply an analog power signal, said power signal, to said ultrasonic transducer (302);
characterized in that it further comprises a sigma-delta modulator (104) configured to carry out a sigma-delta modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called control, and to supply a digital signal, called control, to control said interface of power (106). Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sigma-delta modulator (104) comprises a mono-bit output quantizer so that the control signal is modulated on one bit. Device (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sigma-delta modulator (104) comprises a multi-bit output quantizer so that the control signal is modulated over several bits. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving signal is a digital sinusoidal signal, said device (100) further comprising a digital generator (102) configured to generate said driving signal, in function of any combination of at least one of the following parameters:

• a frequency of said control signal,
• an amplitude of said control signal,
• a phase of said pilot signal.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a control interface (108; 108₁-108_not) numeric providing any combination of at least one of the following parameters:

• a frequency of said control signal,
• an amplitude of said control signal,
• a phase of said pilot signal.

Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is integrated, in part or in whole, in at least one digital component. Ultrasonic device (300) comprising:

• at least one ultrasound transducer (302), and
• a power supply device (100), according to any preceding claim, for powering said at least one ultrasonic transducer (302).

Ultrasonic head (400) comprising several ultrasonic devices (300 ₁ -300 _n ) according to any one of the preceding claims, in parallel. Ultrasound system (500;600) comprising:

• an ultrasonic head (400;602) according to the preceding claim, and
• at least one digital control device (502) for the ultrasonic devices (300 ₁ -300 _n ; 604 ₁ .604 _n ) of said ultrasonic head (400).

System (500; 600) according to any one of Claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it is a medical imaging or therapy system. Use of the system (500; 600) according to any one of claims 9 or 10 for medical imaging. Method for supplying an ultrasonic transducer (302) with an analog power signal, called the supply signal, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

• sigma-delta modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called control, to provide a signal, called control;
• controlling a power interface with said sigma-delta modulated control signal to provide said power signal.